Jenji Kohan’s dark comedic take on the
true story of Piper Kerman’s stint in a federal women’s prison was a
runaway hit on Netflix in its 2013 debut. Now Orange Is the New Black is back (full season on Netflix Friday) with another 13 funny, disturbing and thought-provoking episodes.

This Sunday, HBO offers another look at the early AIDS crisis, also based on true events. The Normal Heart, adapted from Larry Kramer’s semi-autobiographical
Tony Award-winning play, explores the social, medical and political
responses to an unknown disease attacking the gay population in
early-’80s New York City.

The Daily Show has propelled more
comics to fame than just host Jon Stewart. Steve Carell, Ed Helms,
Stephen Colbert, John Oliver (OK, a lot of white guys) and many others
sparked their careers with regular appearances on Comedy Central’s “fake
news” show

Move over, Sheldon. The Big Bang Theory may have helped popularize or mainstream “nerd culture,” but Silicon Valley keeps it real with sharp wit, spot-on tech
references and just a touch of social awkwardness — the makings of any
true geek.

When it comes to a series that transports
viewers to another world and forces us to connect with countless
characters, only to have them hurled into a different direction (cue
the “Red Wedding” reaction reel), Game of Thrones (Season
Premiere, 9 p.m. Sunday, HBO) is king.